The State Fair injury attorneys at Denena & Points are pleased that reports are finally in from the two main investigating groups hired to detail the causes of the deadly Indiana State Fair stage collapse. The reports also recommend ways to prevent future similar disasters. Witt Associates and Thornton Tomasetti, companies specialized in engineering and emergency management and planning, have issued detailed findings and recommendations regarding the Indiana State Fair stage collapse.
Thornton Tomasetti said that the metal riggings that supported stage speakers and lights did not meet industry safety standards. The standards required that the rigging structure be able to withstand wind gusts of 68 mph. Our State Fair injury attorneys note that the wind gusts had only reached 59 mph when the stage collapsed, killing 7 people and injuring dozens more in the chaotic disaster. And once gravity had set the collapse in motion, the structure could not support itself and nothing could prevent the disaster from claiming innocent lives.
The stage collapse occurred moments before the band Sugarland was scheduled to perform. Allegations still point to the band’s manager for insisting that the scheduled concert go on rather than delaying or canceling it on account of weather. Witt Associates says that a lack of adequate emergency preparation and safety plans resulted in an “ambiguity of authority” at the event. This ambiguity compounded the effect of the bad decision on the part of the Sugarland band manager and event personnel. The lack of clarity regarding authority and emergency procedures resulted in uncertainty and confusion where public safety was concerned as State Fair and concert event officials debated over whether to postpone or cancel the concert because of advancing storms.
Concerts, State Fairs, and amusement parks all bring large groups of people together in close quarters for exciting events. Our State Fair injury attorneys emphasize that officials and event organizers have a duty to ensure the safety of the large groups of people they urge to pay for and attend their events.
If you were injured due to negligence, poor emergency planning, or inadequate safety procedures at a large public venue, contact our State Fair injury attorneys for a free and confidential legal consultation. We’re among the very few injury lawyers in the nation to have actual practical experience helping the injured victims of such high-profile disasters.
Our knowledgeable counsel could provide you with the information you need to make sound decisions regarding the future of yourself and your family after you’ve received injuries at a public entertainment event. Learn how you can obtain a full financial recovery for your undeserved injuries. Call today or contact us online.